It’s a fact of life busy school kids need healthy and nutritious packed lunches. Kids love variety and special treats in their lunchboxes. So we have included lots of healthy lunch box options, a great list of sandwich fillings and some yummy and healthy alternatives to the humble sandwich.

Children that have just started school will require small, easy to manage servings, as they will want to eat their lunch quickly, and go and play.

Make lunchtime easy for young children by chopping up fruit and vegetables, and limiting portion sizes. By making foods appealing, manageable and easy to eat, kids will eat enough and still have time to play with their new friends.

Pack their food in small, easy to open containers, snap lock bags or wrap in alfoil rather than cling wrap, (cling wrap can be tricky for little fingers) if they can’t open their lunch and are too shy to approach the teacher they won’t be able to eat it.

Sandwiches are the easiest and most popular type of lunchbox meal. Try varying the fillings and use all different types of breads, including pita bread, bread rolls, bagels, mountain bread, baguettes, French sticks, muffins, crumpets, mixed grain, wholemeal and high-fibre white.

To keep it interesting and appealing for the little ones use cookie cutters to cut sandwiches into shapes or try kids sushi: put sandwich filling on a slice of bread then roll up and cut into thirds.

Try these Sandwich Fillings:

* Cheese and vegemite

* Chopped skinless chicken, cottage cheese and tabouli

* Light cream cheese, grated carrot, sultanas and celery

* Tuna, mayonnaise and lettuce

* Peanut Butter and celery

* Low-fat cheddar cheese, sliced apple and celery

* Cottage cheese, celery, tuna and sprouts

* Avocado, celery, tomato and lettuce

* Avocado, grated carrot and bean sprouts

* Lean ham and fruit chutney

* Mashed bananas and cottage cheese

* Cheese, sliced tomato, lettuce and grated carrot

* Cheese and shredded lettuce

* Grated cheese, grated carrot and shredded lettuce.

* Sliced hard boiled egg and lettuce

* Chicken, lettuce and mayonnaise

* Turkey, lettuce and relish

* Smoked Turkey and cranberry sauce

* Cold meat, tomato, lettuce and grated carrot

* Ham, mustard and tomato

* Shaved ham and cheese

* Homos, dried tomato and sprouts

Alternatives to Sandwiches

If your child doesn’t like bread or if they would prefer a change from sandwiches try: crispbreads - wholegrain, wholemeal or white, cruskits, salada’s, ryvita’s, wholemeal crackers, plain crackers, water crackers, corn thins, rice crackers or rice cakes.

Pack savoury biscuits with cheese slices, cubes or cheese spread and sticks of carrot and celery. Try chicken drumsticks or an assortment of cold meats, beef, ham, turkey with salad, lettuce, carrot, celery, avocado, cheese and a boiled egg.

More alternatives include:

* Pikelets

* Fritatta

* Savoury Pancakes

* Savoury Muffins

* Quiche

* Mini pizza

* Plain Popcorn

* Scones

* Yoghurt

* Puree fruit

* Fruit Loaf

* Cheese Sticks

Food Safety Guidelines

At most schools food is stored in lunch boxes, inside school bags for several hours before it is eaten. To ensure your child’s lunch is fresh at lunchtime –

* Pack lunch in an insulated lunch box.

* Include a freezer pack or frozen water bottle to keep the lunch box cool.

* Follow proper food preparation and storage methods.

* Prepare lunches the night before and store in the fridge or freezer.

Most breads, sandwiches, fruits, vegetables and protein foods are fine to include in lunch boxes.

If it is a hot day perishable foods such as dairy products, eggs and sliced meats must be kept cool and eaten within four hours of preparation.

By Sandy Prosdocimo

With school back in session many parents find themselves debating over whether to pack a lunch for their children or purchase their lunches from the school cafeteria. Before you decide the extra few minutes of slumber are worth the price of school lunches ask yourself if your child’s health is as easily purchased.

Your children’s school lunch program may not be as nutritionally sound as you’d like to think. In fact it’s most likely high in saturated fat and lacking the nutrients your growing child needs. When a snack bar or vending machines are available the likelihood of your child eating a balanced meal diminishes even more. After all how can Mystery Meat compare with pizza, soda pop, and chips?

Here are a few tips on packing a lunch your child and your budget will love!

• Did you make your child’s favorite meal for dinner? Use an insulated lunch box and serving dishes to maintain proper temperatures and send them what remains of their favorite dish.

• Stay away from pre-packaged lunches when possible. They’re typically high in fat, sugar, and empty calories as they’re highly processed.

• Involve your child in both planning and preparing their lunch. Not only are they more likely to eat it, but they’re learning about nutrition as they go!

• Lean luncheon meats and whole grain breads can make a healthy sandwich, but be careful not to get stuck in the same routine. Offer healthy crackers and cheese, a hard boiled egg, or even better a salad in place of the traditional stand by.

• A lot of things can be prepared and gathered the night before, especially if you’re using leftovers from that night’s meal. Save yourself time in double handling by preparing lunches while you’re taking care of dinner. Fresh vegetables can be sliced and bagged, and fresh fruits are often ready to go with a simple washing.
A few minutes planning and preparing can make for a much happier and healthier child.

By: Gigi Andreini Gaggero

Having installed hundreds of kitchens over the years, one of the biggest mistakes that I see homeowners make is that they get so focused on the look of the kitchen and don’t think about the functionality of it. Adding custom pieces that look like furniture and installing dishwashers in the drawers sounds innovative and eye-catching, but will it really fit your families needs?

Storage space is even more important in a small kitchen, where counter space is limited and you can’t afford to have unnecessary items taking up space on the counter. Over the years I have come across some creative ways and creative products that can help organize kitchen and maximize the use of storage space, so I thought I would share some of them

1) Drawer Organizers - for whatever reason, drawers tend to become the catch-all area of the kitchen. Any small item, or seldom used piece gets thrown in the drawer to be forgotten about. There are a lot of creative items on the market right now that help you maximize the drawer space that you have and eliminate the clutter on your counter tops.

Aside from just organizing your utensils, you can now take that cutting board and knife set that has been sitting on your counter and stick it in easy to reach, organized drawer. How about taking those spices off the counter and putting them in an organized drawer with easy access next to the stove? You can even get rid of that bread box you have on the counter and convert a drawer into a bread box.

2) Appliance Caddy’s - every home should have one of these and it is a great way to de-clutter your countertops and still have access to all the day to day appliances you use.

3) Pull-out Waste Baskets - While this won’t help with countertop space, it will certainly help with the unsightly trash can. There are several companies out there that set kits to convert a base cabinet into a pull out wastebasket that gets tucked away and out of sight.

4) Door Mounted Racks - Personally, I think every kitchen should have a couple of these on the doors. Mounted to the back of the doors for base cabinet or wall cabinets, door-mounted racks can be used to organize cleaning supplies, spices, canned goods (just about anything you can think of). Not only do they take advantage of unused space, but they help de-clutter, and put frequently used items at your finger tips.

5) Pull-Out Wall and Base Organizers - If you look around any kitchen, there is always going to be dead or unused space. The latest trend in kitchen organization is the utilization of pull-out wall and base organizers. This is simply a 3″, 6″, or 9″ wide vertical racking system that can hold spices, cans, pans, or anything you can think of. Some companies offer pegboards to mount pots and pans.

The great thing about these products is that they are strong enough to hold a pantry full of canned goods, versatile enough to accommodate all of your pots and pans, and come in a wide range of sizes for both base cabinets and wall cabinets. If you are not familiar with these types of products, I suggest you look up pull-out wall organizers

While I only pointed out a handful of products on the market to help organize your kitchen, there are literally hundreds if not thousands of different products that can fit your particular needs.

So when you are shopping for new kitchen cabinets or looking for ways to maximize the space that you have, make sure you take the time to look for the products that will truly help organize your life.

Gary Nealon

With September comes lunch box meals and brown bag choices. Summer gave us the rainbow colored fruits of the season served sliced, cold, and in their natural glory. No one really wants to leave this healthy, bright and tasty way behind when schedules begin anew and time gets a bit tighter and more hectic.

Fruit is still a great choice whether you are an adult or you are preparing a lunch for a child or significant other. It is moist, colorful, and just plain fun to nibble on. Being a refreshing part of any meal, it brings back energy and gives a boost to the afternoon activities. Fresh, in season, is always the first choice but “mixing” an “matching” does give variety and a “change” to whatever other goodies are in that bag or box.

Blueberries and sliced peaches love to be together. Watermelon, cantaloupe or honeydew add texture, and icy goodness. If packed extra cold, they will stay nice and frosty until lunch time beckons. Raspberries and pears tantalize those taste buds and give color to a sand-wich or muffin. When you pack fruit you can give some goodies right along with it. Coconut or tiny marshmallows, nuts if diets and allergies allow, and even a sprinkling of cinnamon will make lunch time a great time.

Grapes are always welcome, but black or red rasp-berries, strawberries w/hulls, a handful of blueberries, or blackberries are a finger food and can be eaten while reading that great novel or brushing up for next class. Think about freezing berries, placing in a container with a cover, and by noon, they are eating ready and extra refreshing. Candied fruit or dried fruit are all the dessert needed on still warm fall days.

When you think fruit as part of any packed lunch, the choices are as endless as the welcome that comes with each bite. Moist, naturally sweet, and just plain good are three things that make brown bag or box lunches something to look forward to. Summer ending does not have to be the end to fruit with a meal, even if away from home. Pack it and enjoy the pleasures of the season a bit longer. The afternoons go better and appetites are perked for a great meal after school or work. An added bonus - no artificial flavors or colors -they are natural and they are just plain delicious.

By: Arleen M. Kaptur

A wedding anniversary is a joyous occasion in a couple’s life as a celebration of the love and commitment that they have for each other. An anniversary gift basket is an ideal gift which is much more personal than a store-bought item. You can incorporate all the symbols that are associated with each anniversary to create a gift basket that conveys your best wishes to the happy couple.

The fourth wedding anniversary traditional gift is fruit or flowers to symbolize the prosperity and health of the union and the contemporary is appliances. This anniversary’s color is blue or green, while the flower is the geranium, which symbolizes comfort and gentility. The violet is also associated with this anniversary, a symbol of faithfulness and modesty.

You could make a fruit or bouquet anniversary basket, or you might want to make a gardener’s gift basket, including seeds, a handheld hoe, and a small shovel. You can also make a traditional basket that includes fruit- and flower-scented items, such as candles or bath accessories. You can incorporate blue or green colored items throughout the basket or trim it with blue or green ribbon. For an appliance gift basket, you might purchase an electric mixer with mixing bowls and include measuring cups, measuring spoons, and some cake mix as well as some recipes. This can also be trimmed in blue or green. You can scatter violets throughout your basket and a single geranium blossom can be added as a nice final touch.

To celebrate the fifth wedding anniversary, the traditional gift is wood that symbolizes that marriage is strong and enduring. The contemporary gift is silverware to symbolize the bonds that have been made by sharing meals together as a couple and as a family. This anniversary’s color is blue, pink, or turquoise. The daisy is the flower for this anniversary and symbolizes innocence, loyal love and purity. The pansy is also associated with the fifth anniversary and represents love.

For a traditional gift basket, you can include wooden items such as wall decorations, an antique-looking bread box or potato bin, or other wooden furnishings for the couple’s home. You could also create a gift basket based on trees, such as a sapling, gardening utensils, and an art print of a tree or a forest. You can trim the basket with whichever one of the three colors blends with the items inside. For a contemporary basket, you could include silverware as well as other silver items, such as shakers, napkin rings, and candlestick holders to add a touch of elegance to any dining room table. You can also include blue, pink, or turquoise napkins and a daisy or pansy centerpiece that includes smaller flowers that match the color of these napkins to complete your dining gift basket.

The sixth anniversary traditional gift is candy, which symbolizes the sweetness of the union, or iron, which represents the sturdiness of the relationship. The contemporary gift is wood, which also represents durability. The flowers associated with this anniversary are the Calla lily, which represents purity and happiness, and the tulip, which symbolizes love and charity. White is the color for the sixth anniversary.

For a traditional gift basket, you could create a candy lover’s dream with a wide assortment of chocolates and other types of candy, or purchase small iron-cased figurines. There are many wooden items that you could include, such as wooden figurines, a cutting board, wooden spoons, or a wood etching. You could also base your wood gift basket on trees, including a picture of a tree or a forest. Choosing a wooden basket, trimming it with bright white ribbon, and adding a combination of different colored lilies and tulips can make your basket colorful and vibrant.

These are just a few of the many ways that you can create your own anniversary gift basket. Have fun and do not be afraid of combining the traditional with the contemporary, as well as mixing the different colors and flowers. Let your imagination be your guide.

Beverly Sugarman

One of the most exciting times in a young couple’s life is the first time that they move into a new home. It may be a house that they just purchased or the couple’s very first apartment. Whatever the occasion, there are a few ideas that can help you make an ideal housewarming gift basket.

You may want to choose a gift basket with a kitchen theme. You could include baking items, such as measuring spoons, a measuring cup, a whisk, a casserole dish, and various other baking utensils. You could also purchase baking products such as baking soda and baking powder as well as a small bag of flour. You might want to include a few of your favorite recipes, reducing the ingredients so that it will feed two people. You may also want to write less complicated directions if the couple is not familiar with baking.

You could also choose a cooking gift basket. This basket could include such items as a set of spatulas, two different sized skillets, and a cutlery set. You can purchase other items as well, such as non-stick cooking spray and potholders. Again, you could include some basic recipes that will enable the couple to cook simple meals.

A grocery gift basket is another good idea that can be used for a housewarming gift as well as a gift basket for a child that is going off to college. You can start this basket by purchasing all the necessary items that a young couple will need. These necessities could include a bag of sugar, a bag of flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder (or garlic salt), ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and any other items that the couple will use every day that they may not have thought about purchasing themselves. If they do already have these items, the couple can store them for future use. Some other ideas for products that you could place in your grocery basket are canned goods, paper plates, and paper towels. You may not want to purchase anything that needs to be refrigerated as the couple may have already bought supplies and may not have the room to store anything extra.

Another kitchen gift basket that you could design could include a set of canisters to hold sugar, flour, and other items that can be stored easier in a closed container. You might also consider purchasing a small spice rack as these products often include spices that are not used every day. You could add a small bread box to your basket as well as a cutting board. A gift certificate for a local grocery store would be a nice final touch to your grocery gift basket as this will give the couple the opportunity to buy any additional food items that they may need.

When creating your kitchen gift basket, you may want to use a laundry basket or a cloth grocery carrying bag instead of a traditional basket. This will enable you to include more items as well as larger ones. The couple will also be able to use your “gift basket” again. Using trim that is colored with the earth colors such as pale green and brown will give your gift basket a homey look.

These are just a few of the many ways that you can create an ideal kitchen gift basket. No matter which items you decide to include in your own basket, a young couple who are just starting out will appreciate any help that you can give them.

Beverly Sugarman

Decorating your kitchen can be truly invigorating for you and your kitchen. Your guests will notice the changes you have made and ask how you did it. Many of us spend a large chunk of our days in the kitchen and it is fantastic to have one that looks like it was professionally decorated and organized when you know that you did it all by yourself.

There are so many businesses out there that are creating wonderful products for kitchens with new technology and a wide variety of colors. We no longer have to choose from white, red, green or black. You can have a beautifully decorated kitchen with your appliances matching the interior décor with nearly any color of your choice!

Stainless steel is a great metal that can be added to your kitchen in many forms, and it matches whatever color scheme you choose for your kitchen. Stainless steel is nice, easy to clean and looks magnificent.

Something as easy as reorganizing your kitchen can really make you feel better and make your kitchen look 100% better with minimal changes. Get some good storage boxes, a bread box, place to store vegetables and fruit, and storage for anything else that is out or does not seem to have a place of its own. When everything has its own place and the storage is highly organized in your kitchen it is easier to decorate and more convenient to clean. You will also enjoy your kitchen more just from adding some modern decorative organization tools.

A lot of people are choosing to add an island to their kitchen, which is a separate place for storage (usually in the middle of the kitchen) and has a matching countertop. Some people even use them for extra appliances such as a dishwasher, small oven, sink, and more. Most people have one side as a bar where people can eat and drink on stylish bar stools. Adding an island to your kitchen might be a great choice for you while adding more storage space, and eating space.

Another thing is adding a touch of your very own style to your kitchen’s decoration. When you are focusing on decorating your kitchen, organizing your items and choosing a color scheme you can sometimes forget to add a little something. A few vases, interesting knick knacks, wall décor, or some intriguing lighting can add that little touch that pulls it all together. Choose items that you love at first sight and know that you will love having them in your kitchen for a long time.

You can also choose to decorate your kitchen from your favorite decorative item, such as a vase or particular wall décor. By using an item you already love you can build a color scheme from that one item, choose appliances that seem to fit with that item, and even find intriguing organizers that fit the look of your favorite item. Some interior designers only work this way, and swear by it.

Hunter Pyle

All things come to him who goes after them.

The information you just read was pulled from many different resources. You should continue searching for information until you believe you have a firm grasp of the subject. I do want to thank you for visiting and good luck.

Want to decorate your kitchen but don’t have a lot of money?

With a little persistence and time, you can find decorative items at yard sales for pennies! Of course, it will take a bit more work then just walking into your local Home Interiors store, but you will spend far less and end up with some unique items that will add interest to your home.

Beauty is only skin deep, ugly goes to the bone.

You can find items at yard sales that make over go with any kitchen decor. If your kitchen is country style, look for old baskets and chunky old pottery bowls and pitchers. Put them above the cabinets for a decorative display or use them on the counters to store fruits or everyday items. Look for old wooden boxes or silverware trays that you can use as decorative items - this old wood adds warmth and character to your kitchen.

Yard sale finds are perfect for decorating a retro style kitchen. You can still find many kitchen items from the 1970’s and 60’s in good condition. Some of these are true collectibles but many are just fun and decorative. I always look for old bread boxes, canister sets, salt and pepper shakers, napkin holders, wall clocks and other bric a brac for my retro kitchen.

If your kitchen is more of a 1940’s look, you might have a harder time finding vintage items of the era, but you can come up with some good finds if you scour the yard sales and dig into those old boxes. Kitchens decorated in this era, beg for vintage linens to be used as tablecloths and displayed hanging from the stove and cupboard handles. These old linens are stamped with colorful designs and add cheer to any kitchen. Some of the state map tablecloths are quite collectible and can be very expensive in antique shops, so if you find one of those in your travels, you have a real gem on your hands!

If your kitchen is the 60’s, 70’s or 80’s style you might want to consider a few easy, inexpensive fast improvements.

Fast Fix:

Purchase a ready-made island if you can find one that will fit your kitchen’s dimensions. You’ll want enough clearance all the way around (generally a minimum of 30′) so appliances open easily and people can walk around freely. Absent any ready-made options, if you’re handy (or know someone who is), create your own island using stock cabinets (such as a pair of wall cabinets attached back to back) from a home center. It’s fine to go with a different finish from what’s on your other cabinets, too. Paint the lower part of the island a contrasting color and top with laminate, butcher block, or even luxe-look granite.

As for color ‘ that’s the fun part! Take your pick and go conservative with soft gold, sage green, or pale blue, or get crazy and paint the walls barn red, terra cotta orange, or kiwi green. Look for scrubbable paint in a satin or semi-gloss finish. Fast Fix:

Get rid of those boring white walls!

The good news about this project is that paint is inexpensive and the walls in a kitchen are generally confined to smaller areas above, between, and next to the cabinets. The bad news: you’ll have to mask off cabinets and countertops with blue tape and sheets of plastic so drips and painting mistakes won’t be an concern.

If you prefer a modern or contemporary kitchen, you can find many almost new and gently used items to suit your tastes at every yard sale. Try hitting the sales in the upscale section of town and you might find some very expensive items for much less than you would pay at the retail store. You may have to look around a bit to find exactly what you want, but your resolve can pay off big time!

Sometimes you can find items at yard sales that have antique or collectible value. If you find that you lean towards collecting a certain kind of item like old pottery or vintage linens, it might be worth your while to invest in some reference books on the subject. That way you will be able to recognize a good piece when you see it. Who knows, your yard sale treasure could turn out to be a real winner!

This could be the start of something big

What you are about to read is the culmination of information from many different places and resources. I hope you enjoy it.

Dan Farrell

Solid Oak is a wonderful way to enjoy long lasting furniture and is diverse enough to go in any room in the home. Although it is most commonly associated with tables and the like, it can used in baby items such as cribs, dresser/changing tables, high chairs, rockers, child’s size tables and chairs, rocking horses, toy boxes, and many others. For new parents who are buying a complete set at one time, ask stores about discounts for quantity purchases. Think of safety when purchasing baby furniture, especially concerning a crib. When purchasing for an older child think about storage and durability. Some bedroom sets include lots of storage pieces, including bunk beds with built in storage.

Some other wood items are airplanes, boats, trains sets, carousels, trucks and cars of all kinds, and baby cradles, among others. A few sites that sell solid wood furniture offer other items of interest also made with solid wood. It is possible to find quality accent pieces through retailers including shelf and quilt keepers and outdoor pieces. Find clocks, room dividers and screens, tabletop accents, and media pieces when searching for specialty wood pieces. Accessories are available through retailers online when decorating is at the top of the list.

Solid wood furniture is a popular choice when making purchases for additions since some sites offer matching of existing pieces when possible. Sites on the Internet reveal a variety of pieces for all rooms including the office. Some advertise values for unfinished pieces and the stain to do it yourself. When concerns on purchasing online surface, make a call to the site of interest and ask about their return policies or look for a link on the site of choice for locations nearby. Some companies offer customers a 30-day return guarantee if not satisfied with a purchase. Companies that sell pieces online usually offer nationwide delivery and set up pieces in the home.

Culture is often reflected in many oak pieces as lifestyle of a certain group of people is shown through various pieces of solid oak furniture. Vegetable bins, trash bins, bread boxes, buckboards, carts, cupboards, pie safes, shadow boxes, racks, and step stools are a few that are available for purchase online. Buckboards make for sitting and storage and can be acquired in many different stains. A pie safe is a unique piece that was popular years ago, especially found in a country kitchen where lots of baking took place. This is another item that provides storage in the kitchen and adds beauty to any setting. These solid wood furniture cabinets do not take up very much space but they provide a special place for canned offerings.

Groshan Fabiola

While your kids are small, it is a novelty to take a packed lunch from home to school. But this does not last forever. Making a nutritious and low cost packed lunch for one or more kids on a regular basis requires organization. Keep in mind that it is possible to make a kids lunch box for roughly half the cost of a school meal. And if your kid gets a home cooked hot meal after school, or in the evening, plus a wholesome breakfast, there is no reason that you need compromise on nutritional values.

If you don’t want to spend money on a new lunch box then check out your local thrift shops. Jumble/yard sales and church bazaars also routinely have these for sale at give away prices. It is easy to re-design and make over a used or worn looking plastic lunch box. Remove the plastic stick-on artwork, which is probably peeling and faded. The sticky residue can be removed with nail varnish remover. Thoroughly wash and clean the box, inside and outside.

Get the kids to select the new artwork for the side of the box. If you have to buy items for this project, remember that leftovers can be used for future projects, so the initial expense is not as high as it may seem. Clear ‘contact’ paper cut to size (with a half inch overlap), with artwork underneath is easily managed, and many free magazines have interesting pictures for kids. Make especially sure the edges of the clear contact paper are well adhered to the lunch box. With careful washing, this individual artwork will last a year.

Next comes the question “What shall I put in it?” A nutritiously packed lunch box is as good as a hot cooked meal, when carefully planned. The basics would be a sandwich or filled roll, a piece of fresh fruit, and a drink. To increase nutrition and variety, opt for whole-wheat bread or roll. Inexpensive fillings would include bologna and tomato, egg salad (hard boiled egg mixed with mayo), or drained tin tuna mixed with mayo. For chilly winter days, a thermos flask filled with warming and nutritious vegetable soup will show how much you care and literally cost pence to make. To ring the changes, instead of a piece of fresh fruit, how about mixed sticks of raw vegetables? Celery, carrot, salad onion, and Chinese radish all work well. Re-use empty butter tubs to pack these. A handful of your own healthful cereal/nut mix will provide a crunchy contrast to the bread. Mix raisins/sultanas, nuts, chocolate chips and sunflower seeds together. In an airtight contained, they will last ages. If your aim is to save money, do not buy the individual packs of fruit juice or snack foods. They are a very expensive way to prepare a packed lunch.

By Erica Armstrong